Brockton mayor: Trust Act not necessary to protect immigrants

Tuesday

Dec 6, 2016 at 6:19 PMDec 6, 2016 at 6:23 PM

Brockton Mayor Bill Carpenter said that he does not see a need for Brockton to implement the Trust Act, an ordinance that would restrict local police from holding undocumented immigrants for federal authorities, which opponents refer to as a “sanctuary city” policy. At the same time, Carpenter said immigrants are understandably concerned about Trump's presidency.“I think immigrant communities are very concerned about President Trump, and I understand why they are,” Carpenter said.

Marc Larocque Enterprise Staff Writer @Enterprise_Marc

BROCKTON – Brockton Mayor Bill Carpenter said that he does not see a need for Brockton to implement the Trust Act, an ordinance that would restrict local police from holding undocumented immigrants for federal authorities, which opponents refer to as a “sanctuary city” policy.

Carpenter said he is aware that President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to take federal funding away from so-called sanctuary cities, adding that it is a “valid concern,” but he explained that Brockton does not need the Trust Act from a practical standpoint because city police aren’t doing immigration enforcement in the first place.

“My answer is I don’t think it’s necessary, because if someone would just look at what my track record has been as mayor, since the day I’ve been mayor we’ve never held anybody and turned them over to immigration authorities,” said Carpenter, during an interview with The Enterprise on Monday. “We’ve never failed to allow someone to get bail because of immigration status.”

At the same time, Carpenter said immigrants are understandably concerned about Trump’s presidency.

“I think immigrant communities are very concerned about President Trump, and I understand why they are,” Carpenter said.

Supporters of the Brockton Trust Act, including its sponsor Councilor-at-large Moises Rodrigues, have acknowledged that city police don’t hold undocumented immigrants for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But Rodrigues said the Brockton Trust Act would be a “feel-good” policy that would open the line of communication between police and members of immigrant communities who fear law enforcement due to their immigration status.

To that end, Carpenter said he is now considering crafting a policy statement in order to ease concerns.

“I have been giving some thought about issuing some kind of policy statement or executive order from my office,” Carpenter said. “I think that would address all of these issues, and not just immigration status, but how we treat everybody based on equality and equal rights. ... I’m not committed to exactly what I’m going to do.”

Carpenter said he’d be cautious to support a Brockton Trust Act if it harms the Brockton Police Department’s relationship with federal authorities.

“I don’t know how the chief, from his perspective, tells one federal law enforcement agency to go jump in a lake, while he asks five others for resources and assistance,” the Brockton mayor said. “I think that gets a little complicated.”

Emily Leung, a staff attorney at South Coastal Counties Legal Services, spoke at a meeting held on Tuesday morning by the nonprofit Brockton Interfaith Community to promote “sanctuary churches” in the city, as well as the implementation of the Trust Act. Leung said the proposed city ordinance does not violate federal law in the way its currently drafted.

“There is a resistance to formalizing the Trust Act that I would characterize as an anti-immigrant sentiment, as opposed to, sort of, an actual understanding of what we’re asking for,” said Leung, adding that her group provided advice to the Brockton City Council. “We can’t predict what the president-elect will do, in terms of trying to change law, or what measures he will undertake to try to pull funding. All we can do is look at the law, and how it stands now.”

In the end, Carpenter left the door open to potentially approving the Brockton Trust Act if it is passed by City Council. Carpenter explained that there have been several versions of the Trust Act under consideration by the Brockton City Council, which has repeatedly postponed votes on the proposal throughout the year, due to a lack of information and other reasons. At least one City Council member said earlier this year that the vote needed to be delayed partly due to the presidential election.

The City Council Ordinance Committee said last month that they plan to take up the issue again sometime next year.

Supporters and opponents of the proposal have been engaged in heated disputes about the issue on social media, and at Brockton City Hall, when the Trust Act has been discussed at public meetings. Supporters have called opponents racists. Opponents have said the supporters are encouraging lawlessness. Carpenter referred to it as “drum rattling,” and said he would do his best to instill calm.

“In terms of specific legislation, I don’t think I can comment, other than to say ... I’ll review it and make a decision,” Carpenter said. “In the meantime, it’s my job to alleviate everyone’s fears.”